Gamma Black & White

I had an old b&w negative — scanned from an even older photograph — that I wanted developed for framing and hanging on my wall. I was a bit uncertain what to order to ensure the best results but Gamma’s photoprinter, Peter Fairfield, spent time patiently educating me, answering my questions, describing options, and ensuring I got an end product worthy of framing.
It came out beautiful. Heartily recommend.

Since Oscar’s burnt down I was on the lookout for a new black and white lab. Unfortunately I’m gonna have to keep looking. Gamma has terrible business practices/​customer service.
I brought in a roll of film on Tuesday, requesting processing and a CD. I asked if I could have it on Thursday and was told it would be ready Monday-​fine, no problem…
I was out of town on Monday so I called on Tuesday to see if it was done. Nope, but they’ll have it done Wednesday at 3pm-​not a huge deal…
I came in Wednesday at 4:30 and… NOPE! still not done, and the guys downstairs already shut down the machines… but they’ll have it ready Thursday at noon!!! To which I responded, nope, give me my damn negs, I’ll scan them myself. Can I at least get a discount? Sure, a whole dollar discount.
They didn’t comp my order or even give me a phone call when it wasn’t ready when quoted (twice). I will NOT be returning.

Back in the day I worked at the old Faulkner Color Lab, which wasn’t exactly a great fit, so I put my customer service/​front counter resume out to some of the other professional labs, and immediately got offers from several.
I chose to work for Gamma, not because they were offering the most money (they weren’t) or because they were the most glamourous (not in any traditional sense). I took the job because I knew it would mean that, as the person who deals with the customers, I would not be spending any time apologizing for the quality of the work. Gamma’s employees and owners have always been an incredibly talented, experienced, intelligent and caring bunch, and I wouldn’t recommend any other black and white photo lab, especially for custom film development and custom black and white printing.
The best, hands down.

Call it old school… or just the way it should be done. Used to be that it takes an artist’s skills to capture those perfect photos on film. With the advent of digital cameras, it became a «trial in error» process.
I remember many professional photographers who would take their works here to print, but, unfortunately, times have changed. As a result, they have also moved to a smaller nearby location at 130A Russ Street. I am not a photographic aficionado, but the other reviewers will be their witnesses. I know of them become they are my former neighbor.

Beautiful black and white prints come out of this lab. Check it out.

Best Black and White lab in the city.
Don’t go anywhere else.

Absolutely the best black and white lab I have ever used.
Thoughtful, friendly and extremely talented group of printers.
The owners Peter and Lanea are probably the nicest lab if not business owners I know of in San Francisco. I have used labs all over the world from Paris to Zurich to Dusseldorf and I have to say that consistently I get great results with this lab. Actually I often get homesick for Gamma when I am travelling and working and another lab screws up my prints.
Also, the whole staff is made up of photographers and artists who didn’t seem to get the irritated attitude that most printers in most labs tend to have. They are all flexible, friendly, helpful and talented. Its always a great experience working with them. Plus the prints are pretty perfect too. And if they’re not or you need them tweaked they jump right back in.
I highly recommend it for beginners and professionals alike. I have never gotten dusty negatives back from them in all of my years going but maybe I’m just lucky. Probably not though. These are the best black and white developers and printers I’ve been lucky enough to find. For black and white I have tried many other labs in the city and as it turns out now many actually send their printing to Gamma! So a vot of confidence from other labs is pretty convincing. I’ve tried Oscar’s actually and was pretty amazed at the bad prints I got not to mention a couple pretty botched copy stand jobs. And not super friendly I must say actually downright rude. But oh well. It is what before I went to Gamma I had been used to.
So my vote is go with Gamma.
For you black and white die hards! Great prints, negatives and people. A photo gem!
I love Gamma!

Gamma SF is hidden away on Clementina St in SoMa ad there’s usually this big, friendly dog passed out on the floor just inside the door.
I used to use Gamma for three things;
— develop my b&w negatives,
— print contact sheets, and
— occasionally making some prints.
They have a tendency of returning the negatives a bit dusty and it makes the scanning chore so much more painful (even if you do use ICE). The prints I got from them was not very good but to be honest noone will ever be able to make b&w prints for you. You will have to do it yourself to get exactly what you want — and that is part of the fun.
I have since switched my business to Oscar’s PhotoLab (see separate review on them).